Prediction of genotypic values via REML/BLUP and path analysis in maize half-sib families

Maize has significant relevance to food and economic security. The study aimed to evaluate the genetic gain between maize half-sib families, in the first cycle of recurrent selection, using the REML/BLUP methodology. Path analysis was also performed in order to understand the relationship between the agronomic traits. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Triangulo Mineiro – Campus Uberlandia. The agronomic traits evaluated, were: plant height (PH), ear height (EH), stem diameter (SD), ear length (EL), ear diameter (ED) and grain weight (GW). The results indicated significant differences only for the traits EL, GW and ED. A high coefficient of genetic variation (CVg) was observed for the traits EL, GW and ED, with only ED presenting a coefficient of relative variation (CVr) above one. The REML/BLUP methodology demonstrated high accuracy values and the estimates of gains were promising, with values of 24.07%, 21.88% e 18.23% for EL, GW and ED, respectively. Path analysis revealed the possibility of indirect gains in GW through EL.